Trade Josh Johnson To Spare Freeman?

October 14th, 2009

In a take no sane Bucs fan could agree with, Mike Florio, curator, creator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, has named Josh Johnson as one of his top-10 players who should be traded by next week’s trade deadline.

Florio compares Johnson and Josh Freeman to Browns greats Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, respectively. By Florio’s logic, Freeman won’t be able to handle the pressure of Josh Johnson looming over his shoulder when he takes the QB torch.

The Bucs are walking into that same potential trap with Josh Johnson and Josh Freeman. The latter was a 2009 first-round pick, and the presumed quarterback of the future. The former is the short-timer, who is playing well without the stress of possibly being benched, since everyone (including Johnson) believes that day is coming once Freeman is ready.

But even if he’s not the starter in 2010, Johnson is showing enough to make him a viable Plan B if Freeman struggles next year. And Freeman will be more likely to overthink and/or hesitate if he realizes that bad performances could give Johnson another shot.

As a result, with plenty of positive buzz being generated regarding Johnson, the Bucs should move him now, and they should trust the guy in whom they entrusted first-round status.

Joe couldn’t disagree more. If Josh Johnson becomes a problem for Freeman, then Freeman needs to buy some oversized Depends and thank his maker that the Bucs dropped tens of millions on such an immature clown as he.

If Freeman stinks, the fans will always be calling for the No. 2 quarterback. That’s the way it’ll be regardless of who’s on the roster.

12 Responses to “Trade Josh Johnson To Spare Freeman?”

  1. Chris Says:

    Well put Joe!!! I want a competitor that will fight and earn his job. Forget this anointment stuff. Earn it. If Freeman can not stand the heat get out of our kitchen.

  2. thedeej3000 Says:

    No since in trading, what might be a decent QB for a guy who will most likely be a bust.

  3. David Says:

    I’m sad. I really, really, really, really hope that we get Sam Bradford or Colt McCoy in a Buccaneer uniform. The Bucs have to look at the big picture. When you look at Josh Freeman, what do you see? A quarterback that was drafted in the first round because McCoy and Bradford decided that they wanted to go for a National Championship one more time, a guy who looks like an NFL QB…but Jamarcus Russell did too, and a QB whose college was never really a feature in any BCS Bowl games.

    Then you have Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford. Accurate, outstanding in pressure situations, and always in a headliner BCS Bowl. If the Bucs do not get either two QB’s in next year’s draft, our next winning season might not be until later in the next decade.

  4. David Says:

    P.S.
    Trade Freeman, Keep Johnson 🙂

  5. Joe Says:

    David:

    Barring an extreme circumstance (Josh Freeman getting kidnapped by the Taliban), there’s no way the Bucs spend a first round pick in successive years on a quarterback.

    Raheem the Dream made his bed with Freeman because he couldn’t get over his erection for the kid and his workouts, which all too often is a grave error by coaches.

    The upcoming draft is loaded with quarterbacks yet the Bucs decided to take a major gamble and trade up for Freeman last spring. Joe screamed bloody murder at the time. For good or bad, Bucs fans are stuck with Freeman.

    Joe is crossing his fingers.

  6. David Says:

    It was either say something illogical or go on an all out unclassy fan rage Joe. Either way, win or a lot of losses, I’m a Bucs fan.

  7. bucsfanlostiniowa Says:

    does freeman have a nickname? let me be the first to propose “BIG BABY” as the official nickname!

  8. JK Says:

    bucsfan, big baby is taken. He plays for the Celtics I think. As for Freeman, start him Sunday. They need to find out if he can stand the heat. We are looking at possibly a first pick next season. If Freeman can’t cut it draft Tebow. Instant success. The league will love him. No hitting below the waist. Just like Brady. He’s local and a media darling. That goes a long way in the NFL brotherhood where it’s only about $$$$$$. They will make sure the Bucs can compete despite our owners.

  9. MTM Says:

    bucsfanlostiniowa I believe the current nickname is “Soul Glo”.
    I think before we worry about a QB controversy. We should woory about the defense/secondary. I think the offense is coming around somewhat. But the “D” needs alot of work.

  10. BigMacAttack Says:

    I think we need a new Defensive Coordinator. Why are the Giants so good? Hmmm? Could it be they have both outstanding lines, offense and defense?
    I would only trade JJ, if someone would give up a 1’st round pick for him. He’s a keeper all the way, but no one will give up a 1 for 5’th round player.
    Freeman has a great big “?” on him. He was the riskiest pick in the draft. All the Gurus said it, but Raheem knew better.
    If they Glazers wanted to promote a Head coach from within the ranks, they should have considered Rich Bisaccia.
    I never saw jon gruden smile when they were losing. Raheem is 0-5 and happy as a lark. What’s up with that.
    People generally get promoted to their level of incompetence. Seems like the case here.
    Did anyone think the Broncos would be 5-0 after their offseason fiasco and terrible 08′ season. Sounds like good coaching to me. Hmmm?

  11. Marlow Says:

    Tebow 2 Tampa…regardless! If Tebow is available and we pass him for whatever player I won’t pay for another ticket! Anyway, we may know the same about Freeman as any available college QB when the draft comes, which is …NOTHING concrete! Keep JJ at QB and let’s get this season over as quick as we can. DO NOT put Freeman in this mess of an offense!

  12. Joe Says:

    Marlow:

    What round are you talking about?